Hampshire Coast Accommodation

Portsmouth's stunning waterfront on the Hampshrie Coast
Sunny south facing beaches line Hampshire's coast
Coastal defences line the Hampshire coast like Portchester Castle
Hayling Island is a hotspot for family friendly beaches and watersports
Hayling Island was the birthplace of windsurfing where it's still popular at West Beach
Blue flag beaches are excellent for swimming and watersports
Southampton's attractions are linked to its industrial heritage and defensive position
Family fun around Gosport and Lee-on-Solent beaches

Hampshire Beaches Coast Holidays Portsmouth Tourism Southampton

The Hampshire coast is a mix of busy ports with a long industrial and naval history and quieter beachside towns and villages facing out across the English Channel. Southampton is the centre of maritime industrial history particularly linked with the cruise lines like the Titanic that were so popular in the early 20th century. Portsmouth, on the other hand, is the centre of naval and maritime war history. The Waterfront along Portsmouth and Southsea is where you'll find the majority of the attractions and there's plenty to keep the whole family occupied.

For peaceful family seaside holiday friendly beaches try Milford-on-Sea on the New Forest Coast, the long beaches of Lee-on-the-Solent or Hayling Island and of course those dotted around the Isle of Wight coast. At Lee-on-the-Solent, Hayling Island and Sandown there are dedicated family attractions beside the beaches. And all along the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight it's excellent sailing and windsurfing territory.

Featured Hampshire Accommodation

Travelrest Solent Gateway - Fareham

Smart accommodation at simple prices. Set in own grounds with Free car park. Ideally located for the regions numerous leisure attractions on A27 at Fareham.

£30 to £70 Per room per night

Portsmouth Tourist Guide Attractions in Southsea Portsmouth England

Portsmouth is both a city full of shopping and entertainment options as well as a city with a maritime history rich in visitor attractions. Most of the tourist attractions are found along the waterfront where fortified defences and the historic naval dockyard provide a wealth of places to visit to find out how the invasions through the centuries were defended.

The town was also the birthplace for one of the world's most influential authors, Charles Dickens whose family worked for the Navy. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the celebrated Sherlock Holmes, also made his home here and you can find out more about their lives in the city's museums. Portsmouth is also the centre for the Royal Navy and a working port with a huge choice of ferry crossings to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, France and Spain.

Southsea is one of the oldest areas in Portsmouth and has retained much of its character. It's often a preferred shopping centre for those who want more independent shops than the usual high street names. A host of pubs, clubs, theatres and live music venues means there's plenty to keep you entertained day or night.

Southsea is also the base for the hovercraft over to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It's a quick hop over and a popular day out.

Tourist Attractions near Portsmouth Military Forts Porchester Castle Portsdown Hill

Being such a valuable strategic coastal point to the English coast the area around Portsmouth has long been a defensive centre. Portchester Castle on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour has played such a pivotal role since the Romans. You can now visit this fantastically intact castle just a short trip from Portsmouth itself.

In the distance from Portsmouth you can see the white scar in the hillside that is the chalk outcrop of Portsdown Hill. This is now more valuable for its wildlife but once was the site of a string of military forts built to defend invasions from the Solent. Today you can visit the Royal Armouries Museum to find out how these came about and their role in defending the realm.

Southampton Tourist Guide

Southampton is an interesting mix of historic medieval town linked to some of the world's most famous naval events, and a modern cosmopolitan city with a fantastic art scene and stacks of shopping. The city centre is effectively split in two with all the historic sights, the docks and modern marinas in the south, Below Bar, and the art galleries, theatres, parks and the majority of the shopping centres Above Bar in the north.

There is masses to do whether it's a historic walking trail around the city's medieval walls that once fortified the town, or a day of shopping til you drop - and with so many shopping outlets it's not difficult to! The city's art galleries and theatres along with the Guildhall that houses the City Art Gallery and hosts international pop and comedy acts gives all the culture vultures plenty to see and do while the variety of parks provide a welcome quiet oasis to rest your feet.

Hayling Island Tourism Windsurfing Birdwatching Hayling Ferry

Hayling Island is located between Portsmouth and Emsworth near the Hampshire border with Sussex. It is linked to the mainland by a road bridge that takes you over Langstone Harbour. To the east is Chichester Harbour - making it an ideal location for sailing, windsurfing, power boating, jet skiing, kitesurfing and a range of other watersports. In fact one of Hayling Island's claims to fame is as the birthplace of windsurfing.

It is already a popular family seaside resort but there are plans afoot to spruce up the seafront adding a watersports centre, restaurants, public spaces and cafes and play areas.

Being one of the sunniest places in the country and with beaches and seaside attractions, South Hayling makes an excellent summer holiday choice. It is the centre for windsurfing, family holidays and holiday parks in Hampshire. Beachlands and Funland in the centre of the beaches provide a whole host of family entertainment from rides, amusements, go karts and golf. The Hayling Seaside Railway is another popular attraction here - a narrow gauge railway that runs up and down the seafront. The three mile stretch of shingle beach is excellent for all, whether you want to swim, soak up the sun or have a go at a range of watersports.

Alongside the beaches are some important wildlife habitats amongst the swathe of grassland and dunes alongside the beach. Hayling Golf Club has been formed out of the dunes here to create a traditional links course. The habitats on the golf course and Sinah Common are important for a range of wildlife and make an excellent place to walk whether it's to look at the wildflowers or do a spot of birdwatching.

Gosport Holiday Tourist Guide Submarine Museum Gosport Ferry

Over on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour is Gosport. It was once a centre for the military and due to its location it has always been a popular sailing centre. Gosport Waterfront is a stunning place to stroll with fantastic views of Spinnaker Tower and the Naval ships moored on the Portsmouth side. A quick ferry ride on the Gosport Ferry makes it an easy trip for a spot of shopping at Gunwharf Quays.

These days the old military links make excellent visitor attractions. Explosion! as the name suggests, tells the story of the development of the missiles that fuelled Royal Naval warfare. At the Submarine Museum you can walk around an actual submarine and find out how these unusual craft have been vital to the Navy's operations. All around Portsmouth Harbour are a string of forts built in the 19th century and you can visit Fort Brockhurst in Gosport to find out why they were built.

Lee- on-the-Solent Tourist Guide Beaches Stokes Bay Hampshire Coast

Lee-on-the-Solent is just around the coast from Gosport. It's geared towards family beach holidays with lots of attractions along the beachfront, ice cream kiosks, amusements and cafes.

There are scenic walks all along the coast through Lee-on-Solent and you can follow the long distance Solent Way trail. Heading east you come to Stokes Bay also popular for its beach and the family friendly music festival, Stokes Bay Festival.

Emsworth Tourist Guide Havant Hampshire Chichester Harbour

Emsworth is a large village right on the Hampshire/West Sussex border. It is an historic town that grew up from the Saxon times as a fishing town and has relied on oyster fishing and boat building in the past.

Situated on an the northern edge of Chichester Harbour it is a centre for sailing and pleasure boats. Wildlife too has made the harbour it's home and it's a great place for spotting migratory waders and wildfowl.

Fareham Tourist Guide Shopping Farmers Markets Hampshire

Fareham lies between Southampton and Portsmouth at the head of Portsmouth Harbour. It was traditionally a market town who's fortunes were made on brick and tile production and its links with the Royal Navy nearby. If you want to find out more about the town's history the Westbury Manor Museum has an interesting array of exhibits. In the same building is the Tourist Information Centre for town guides and suggestions for things to do in and around Fareham.

Today Fareham is a bustling shopping centre with a wide choice of high street and indoor shopping. The weekly market increases the choice and you can find a whole host of locally produced goods at the monthly Farmers' Market.

Emsworth Tourist Guide Havant Hampshire Chichester Harbour

New Forest Coast Tourist Coast Hampshire

The far western part of Hampshire is largely taken up with the New Forest. Outside the National Park but on its borders are some seaside towns and villages that give you the best of being by the sea and being within easy reach of the New Forest and all it has to offer.

Lymington is one of the main towns in the New Forest but is also a harbour town. You can pick up one of the ferries to the Isle of Wight from Lymington take boat trips out to Hurst Castle or just wander around the Georgian fronted town. Milford-on-Sea is right on the coast with a long pebbly beach. It has views across to the Isle of Wight and you can actually walk round the coast to Hurst Castle spit.

Featured Hampshire Accommodation

Travelrest Solent Gateway - Fareham

Smart accommodation at simple prices. Set in own grounds with Free car park. Ideally located for the regions numerous leisure attractions on A27 at Fareham.

£30 to £70 Per room per night